無手心道 Mu Te Shin Do

Mu = Nothingness Te = Hand Shin = Heart-mind, or Spirit of Intent Do = Path to Mastery

Training the spirit to hold onto nothing;

freedom from judgement, freedom from comparison, freedom from fear.

Mu Te Shin Do Martial Arts is the collective name for programs Samurai Kindy, Samurai School, Shinobi Teens and Ninpo Goshinjutsu Adult training. It was originally created to simplify the management of the Junior training programs and the administration of the instructors and schools using these programs. With the retirement of Mu Te Ryu in January 2009 the training has been extended to included all levels of training including adult training programs.

To find out more Click Here or call Robert Armstrong 07779614684

™	Samurai Kindy™ for children 5 to 7 years are classes designed specifically to introduce very young children to martial arts training. Its not watered down though, they do what the big kids do, we just give them a lot more time and have a lot more fun on the way.

™	Samurai School for 7 to 12 years old is our longest running and most successful program. It is a fun non-competitive Martial Art combining both traditional and modern technologies that focus equally on mental and physical training to help develop a strong and confident human being. In recent years it has also been taught in primary and secondary schools either as an 'After School' or physical education elective.

™	Shinobi Teens™ for 13 to 16 years old provides the same fun non-competitive Martial Arts training as with the Samurai School but also includes more advanced and serious topics such as greater awareness of danger and assessing risk, verbal self defence, defence against bladed weapons, alcohol and drug induced violence, and multiple attacker scenarios. In recent years it has been taught in secondary schools as a physical education elective.

™	Mu Te Shin Do™ is our full program aimed at students 16 years and above. It is a self defence orientated non-competitive study of Martial Arts training originating from Ninjutsu and other traditional and modern technologies to create an effective naturally free moving philosophy of training providing students with the ability to handle both non-physical and physical conflict.

Mu Te Shin Do is a way of training as opposed to a style of training. It is a Martial Art with Self Defence Application as opposed to just Self Defence. Martial Arts training is long and at times difficult providing the practitioner with additional skills, necessary for life but not necessarily required in Self Defence. Self Defence should be quick to learn, easy to remember and extremely effective (as can be). It serves as an introduction to many different martial arts, as opposed to a specialization in a style or styles; this is why it should not be considered a style in its own right, but a ‘way’.

Mu Te Shin Do's main influence comes from Mr Armstrong's early training in Wing Chun and Bok Fu, and later training in the two Ninjutsu based systems of Mu Te Ryu, as developed by Bo Munthe (best described as half way between Ninjutsu and Jujutsu), and Stephen Hayes' To-Shin Do (a reality based Ninjutsu Self Defence program). Mr Munthe and Mr Hayes were both highly ranked senior instructors of Bujinkan Ninjutsu (know known as Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu) and served as pioneers introducing Ninjutsu to Europe and the USA.

Rather than thinking of Mu Te Shin Do as a new martial art, it is more correct to think of it as a grouping of martial arts ideas and techniques, brought together into one syllabus in order to enhance the practitioner’s quality of life.

For those who have studied Mu Te Ryu it is a way to continue, whilst honouring Soke Munthe’s wishes to retire the ryu. Another possible translation of Mu Te Shin Do could actually be “In the spirit of Munthe”.

Our Instructors

The Mu Te Shin Do Symbol consists of a ninja encompassed by a red circle and a gold ring. In addition to the usual translation of Nin as Shinobi, one other translation of the symbol Nin means ‘to persevere’ or to ‘put up with’. The red circle symbolizes our evolving heart or our relentless passion to training whilst the gold ring and gold edging identify our search for excellence.

At the heart of our training is Mu Te Ryu (ninpo). We train to strengthen our body through physical technique and develop our mind through perseverance and problem solving; to overcome both internal and external obstacles.

Let the way in which we live and train, be a great example to all those we may come in contact with.

Grading and Assessment

We use a ‘Mon’ or Junior grading system for our Junior Students in Samurai Kindy and the Samurai School which does not include Dan or Black Belt Gradings. Shinobi Teens differs slightly in that the highest grade is a Junior Black Belt which can be upgraded following a short period of training in the adult syllabus. The full adult syllabus of Mu Te Shin Do is made up of 7 kyu and 4 dan levels, as well as 6 instructor levels of certification.

All students are assessed on a regular basis and progress is indicated in the form of coloured belt awards. Junior students also have part awards indicated by black stars sewn to their belts and the Merit Badge System which provides additional methods for measuring progress between gradings.

The best way to know if Mu Te Shin Do is for you is to take advantage of a free trial lesson.

FAQ.

Q. If Mu Te Shin Do is so strongly influenced by ninjutsu, then why not just study ninjutsu?

A. This is a very fair question and not easy to answer in a few lines. Mu Te Shin Do is (for the founder) a continuation of Mu Te Ryu. Mu Te Ryu was the creation of Mr Bo Munthe, a highly graded master instructor in Bujinkan Ninjutsu, who was also highly respected instructor of JiuJitsu and held over 60 Dan grades in various martial arts. At the time of writing, in addition to continued study of MuTeRyu principles and practises, founder Robert Armstrong is actively revising and refining his own studies in ninjutsu and To-Shin Do (Stephen Hayes' ninjutsu self defence program). If you call the study of Ninjutsu techniques Ninjutsu then I/we already practise Ninjutsu. If you call the study of Ninjutsu an official afilliation or direct student teacher relationship with Japan then we do not study Ninjutsu. You will have to answer this question for yourself.

Q. If Mu Te Shin Do is not strictly a traditional martial art then why continue to use traditional martial arts terms and titles?

A. We are greatly influenced by traditional styles and it is important that students remain aware of this fact. When we visit other schools as guests, it is important that we show an understanding of (and willingness to) conform to their customs.

Q. Your training is quite modern at times, so why wear a traditional training uniform?

A. Firstly martial arts uniforms are stronger than normal clothes so wont rip so easily. Secondly the uniform is instrumental in getting the mind (whole class mind) ready for training; everyone becomes the same, becomes neutral. Thirdly it is an act of respect for the traditional training.

Q. Why should I care about traditional and moral training; I just want to learn how to defend myself?

A. Most people learn martial arts to improve their life situation in some way; to get fit, to defend them self, to move like Jackie Chan, to play with weapons etc. But if all you practise day in day out is how to punch someone in the head, then your life situation will probably not improve at all.

Black Belt Honours List

Robert Armstrong, Kaiso (6 Dan Ninpo Goshinjutsu Mu Te Ryu)

Ryan Lloyd, 3 Dan, Jan 09 (3 Dan Ninpo Goshinjutsu Mu Te Ryu)

Ian Lloyd, 2 Dan, Jan 09 (2 Dan Ninpo Goshinjutsu Mu Te Ryu)

Ross Pidoux, 1 Dan, Nov 08 (1 Dan Ninpo Goshinjutsu Mu Te Ryu)

Jonathon Gay, 1 Dan, Sep 09

Conor Hayes, 1 Dan, Oct 09 (Junior)

James Humphrey, 1 Dan, Oct 09 (Junior)

Josh Carter, 1 Dan, Oct 09 (Junior)